Jhargram: In a tragic incident, three elephants, including two calves, were killed after being struck by a speeding train near Banstala railway station in the Jhargram district of West Bengal in the early hours of Friday.
The collision occurred around 3:00 AM when a herd of approximately ten elephants was crossing the railway tracks. The Jan Shatabdi Express, reportedly travelling at high speed, hit the animals, killing the three on the spot.
Forest officials had reportedly alerted the railway authorities about the presence of elephants near the tracks several hours earlier. According to District Forest Officer (DFO) Umar Imam, elephant movement was noticed near the railway line around 11:00 PM on Thursday night.
The on-duty range officer was instructed to send an immediate message to the railway control room to caution train drivers and authorities.
Despite this alert, the train did not slow down in time, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of coordination between the Forest Department and railway officials.
Wildlife activists and locals have expressed deep concern over repeated incidents of elephant deaths on railway tracks in the region. The corridor is known for frequent elephant crossings, especially during the monsoon months when herds migrate across forest ranges.
Officials from both the Forest Department and Indian Railways are expected to launch an investigation into the incident. Wildlife conservationists have once again called for stricter enforcement of speed restrictions in known elephant corridors and better surveillance systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The remains of the elephants were later removed with the help of forest and railway staff. A post-mortem will be conducted to confirm the exact cause of death.
This incident adds to a growing list of elephant fatalities due to train accidents in India, highlighting the urgent need for improved wildlife protection measures along railway routes.
